{{Short description|2013 Android mobile operating system}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox OS version | name = Android KitKat | title = Android KitKat | logo = Android KitKat logo.svg | logo_size = 200px | screenshot = File:Nexus 5 (Android 4.4.2) Screenshot.jpg | caption = Android KitKat running on a Nexus 5 | screenshot_size = 250px | version of = Android | developer = Google | discontinued = yes | RTM date = {{start date and age|2013|09|03}} | GA date = {{start date and age|2013|10|31}} (as Android 4.4) {{start date and age|2014|06|25}} (with Wearable Extensions) | release_version = 4.4.4_r2.0.1 (KTU84Q)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/refs/tags/android-4.4.4_r2.0.1|website=Google Git|title=Android Source|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613112625/https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/refs/tags/android-4.4.4_r2.0.1|url-status=live}}</ref> | release_date = {{Start date and age|2014|07|07}} | kernel type = Monolithic (Linux) | preceded_by = Android Jelly Bean (4.1–4.3) | succeeded_by = Android Lollipop (5.0–5.1) | support_status = {{plainlist| * Unsupported since October 1, 2017<ref name=AndroidSecurityBulletin>{{cite web|title=Android Security Bulletin – April 2017|url=https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-04-01|website=Android.com|publisher=Android Open Source Project|access-date=April 5, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419180717/https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-04-01|url-status=live}}</ref> * Google Play Services support dropped since August 2023<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://9to5google.com/2023/07/24/google-play-services-android-kitkat|title=Google Play services ending support for Android 4.4 KitKat|date=Jul 24, 2023|access-date=Jul 24, 2023|archive-date=Jul 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724195453/https://9to5google.com/2023/07/24/google-play-services-android-kitkat/|website=9to5Google|url-status=live}}</ref> }} | website = {{Official URL}} }} '''Android KitKat''' is the codename for the eleventh version of the Android mobile operating system, representing release version 4.4. Unveiled on September 3, 2013, KitKat focused primarily on optimizing the operating system (running on as little as 512 MB of RAM; '''Project Svelte''') for improved performance on entry-level devices with limited resources. It is the last version of Android to use the "Holo" interface. On July 24, 2023, Google announced that Google Play Services would no longer support KitKat in August of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Play services discontinuing updates for KitKat (API levels 19 & 20) starting August 2023 |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2023/07/google-play-services-discontinuing-updates-for-kitkat.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Android Developers Blog |language=en |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725002251/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2023/07/google-play-services-discontinuing-updates-for-kitkat.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=2023-07-24 |title=Google Play services ending support for Android 4.4 KitKat |url=https://9to5google.com/2023/07/24/google-play-services-android-kitkat/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=9to5Google |language=en-US |archive-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724215256/https://9to5google.com/2023/07/24/google-play-services-android-kitkat/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=2023-07-25 |title=Android 4.4 KitKat is truly dead, loses Play Services support |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/google-drops-play-services-support-for-android-4-4-kitkat-after-10-years/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726183606/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/google-drops-play-services-support-for-android-4-4-kitkat-after-10-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The first phone with Android KitKat was the Nexus 5.
{{As of|2026|03|post=,}} 0.06% of Android devices run KitKat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile & Tablet Android Version Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share/mobile-tablet/worldwide/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714081352/https://gs.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share/mobile-tablet/worldwide |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=2020-11-16 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref>
== History == Android 4.4 "KitKat" was officially announced on September 3, 2013. The release was internally codenamed "Key Lime Pie"; but John Lagerling, director of Android global partnerships, and his team, decided to drop the name, arguing that "very few people actually know the taste of a key lime pie". Aiming for a codename that was "fun and unexpected", his team pursued the possibility of naming the release "KitKat" instead. Lagerling phoned a representative of Nestlé, who owns the KitKat brand and produces the confectionery (outside the United States, where it is made by The Hershey Company under license), and quickly reached a preliminary deal for a promotional collaboration between the two companies, later finalized in a meeting at Mobile World Congress in February 2013. The partnership was not revealed publicly, or even to other Google employees and Android developers (who otherwise continued to internally refer to the OS as "KLP"), until its official announcement in September.<ref name=cnet-kitkatname>{{cite web|title=Android 4.4 KitKat: What's the point of co-branding?|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/android-4-4-kitkat-whats-the-point-of-co-branding/|website=CNET|access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-date=December 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223044310/http://www.cnet.com/news/android-4-4-kitkat-whats-the-point-of-co-branding/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=KitkatBBC>{{cite news |last=Kelion |first=Leo |title=Android KitKat announced |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23926938 |access-date=September 3, 2013 |work=BBC News |date=September 3, 2013 |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904070600/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23926938 |url-status=live }}</ref>
As part of the promotional efforts, Kit Kat bars in the shape of the Android robot logo were produced, while Hershey ran a contest in the United States with prizes of Nexus 7 tablets and Google Play Store credit.<ref name=KitkatBBC/><ref name=phonearena-contest>{{cite web|title=Kit Kat contest up and running, win one of a 1000 Google Nexus 7 (2013) slates being given away|url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Kit-Kat-contest-up-and-running-win-one-of-a-1000-Google-Nexus-7-2013-slates-being-given-away_id47183|website=PhoneArena|date=September 6, 2013 |access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064235/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Kit-Kat-contest-up-and-running-win-one-of-a-1000-Google-Nexus-7-2013-slates-being-given-away_id47183|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Nexus 5, developed by LG Electronics, was unveiled on September 30, 2013, as the launch device for KitKat.<ref name=pcmag-nexus5>{{cite web|title=Google Unveils Nexus 5 With Android 4.4 KitKat|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2426620,00.asp|website=PC Magazine|date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094016/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2426620,00.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
One of the bugs introduced in version 4.4 and solved in version 4.4.1 was the hairy heart: the yellow heart emoji {{angbr|💛}} would be shown as a hairy heart {{angbr|20px|alt=a pink heart symbol with marks representing short hair.}}.<ref name="Bond">{{Cite news |last1=Bond |first1=John-michael |date=Apr 30, 2014 |title=You may be accidentally sending friends a hairy heart emoji |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-04-30-you-may-be-accidentally-sending-friends-a-hairy-heart-emoji.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250429072521/https://www.engadget.com/2014-04-30-you-may-be-accidentally-sending-friends-a-hairy-heart-emoji.html |archive-date=29 Apr 2025 |access-date=18 November 2025 |work=Engadget |language=en}}</ref>
Up to October 2017, Android 4.4 was still supported by Google with security patches for the source code.<ref name="No_longer_supported">{{Cite web|url=https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-10-01|title=Android Security Bulletin—October 2017 {{!}} Android Open Source Project|website=Android Open Source Project|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705150626/https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-10-01|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=AndroidSecurityOverview>{{cite web|title=Security updates and resources|url=https://source.android.com/security/overview/updates-resources.html|quote=When a security vulnerability in AOSP is fixed in an Android Security Bulletin, we'll notify Android partners of issue details and provide patches. The Android security team currently provides patches for Android versions 4.4 (KitKat) and above. This list of backport-supported versions changes with each new Android release.|website=Android.com|publisher=Android Open Source Project|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-date=January 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112142654/https://source.android.com/security/overview/updates-resources.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=AndroidSecurityBulletin>{{cite web|title=Android Security Bulletin – April 2017|url=https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-04-01|website=Android.com|publisher=Android Open Source Project|access-date=April 5, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419180717/https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-04-01|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Development == Continuing the focus on improving visual performance and responsiveness on Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean", the main objective of Android 4.4 was to optimize the platform for better performance on low-end devices without compromising overall capabilities and functionality. The initiative was codenamed "Project Svelte", which Android head of engineering Dave Burke joked was a weight loss plan after Jelly Bean's "Project Butter" added "weight" to the OS.<ref name=readwrite-androidkitkat/> To simulate lower-spec devices, Android developers used Nexus 4 devices underclocked to run at a reduced CPU speed with only a single core active, 512 MB memory, and at 960×540 display resolution—specifications meant to represent a common low-end Android device.<ref name=readwrite-androidkitkat/>
A development tool called ProcStats was developed to analyze app memory usage over time, especially for apps that run background services. This data was used to optimize and decouple inefficient Google apps and services, thereby reducing Android's overall memory usage. Additionally, 4.4 was designed to be more aggressive in managing memory, helping to guard against apps wasting too much memory.<ref name=readwrite-androidkitkat>{{cite news|title=How Google Shrank Android For Version 4.4 KitKat|url=http://readwrite.com/2013/11/25/how-google-shrunk-android-for-version-44-kitkat|access-date=November 2, 2015|work=ReadWrite|archive-date=October 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019083327/http://readwrite.com/2013/11/25/how-google-shrunk-android-for-version-44-kitkat|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name=phonearena-svelte>{{cite web|title=Android 4.4 KitKat to run "comfortably" on 512MB RAM devices, here's how|url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-4.4-KitKat-to-run-comfortably-on-512MB-RAM-devices-heres-how_id49099|website=PhoneArena|date=November 6, 2013 |access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-date=January 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129162620/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-4.4-KitKat-to-run-comfortably-on-512MB-RAM-devices-heres-how_id49099|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Features == {{See also|Android version history#Android 4.4 KitKat}}
=== User experience === The overall interface of KitKat further downplays the "Holo" interface appearance introduced on 4.0, replacing remaining instances of blue accenting with greys and white (such as the status bar icons), and getting rid of the Wi-Fi upstream and downstream traffic indicators (triangles pointing up and down), though they can still be seen in the quick control center menu.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Amadeo|first=Ron|date=2013-11-14|title=Android 4.4 KitKat, thoroughly reviewed|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/11/android-4-4-kitkat-thoroughly-reviewed/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024155638/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/11/android-4-4-kitkat-thoroughly-reviewed/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Wi-Fi icon colour when only a connection to an access point with no Internet access has been changed from grey to orange.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-11-19|title=Android 4.4 KitKat: Warum die Statussymbole weiß und statisch sind|url=https://www.giga.de/software/android-4.4-kitkat/news/android-4.4-kitkat-warum-die-statussymbole-weiss-und-statisch-sind/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=GIGA|language=de|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024155304/https://www.giga.de/software/android-4.4-kitkat/news/android-4.4-kitkat-warum-die-statussymbole-weiss-und-statisch-sind/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The appearance may vary across custom vendor distributions, such as TouchWiz.
Apps may trigger a translucent status and navigation bar appearance, or trigger a full-screen mode ("Immersive mode") to hide them entirely. The launcher also received a refreshed appearance, with translucent navigation bars and a translucent backdrop replacing the black backdrop in the application drawer.<ref name="ars-androidhistory">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/06/building-android-a-40000-word-history-of-googles-mobile-os/|title=The history of Android: The endless iterations of Google's mobile OS|last=Amadeo|first=Ron|date=June 16, 2014|work=Ars Technica|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-date=July 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705054517/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/06/building-android-a-40000-word-history-of-googles-mobile-os/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Nexus 5 review">{{cite news |last=Molen |first=Brad |title=Nexus 5 review |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/05/nexus-5-review/ |work=Engadget |date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109020218/http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/05/nexus-5-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, action overflow menu buttons in apps are always visible, even on devices with the deprecated "Menu" navigation key.<ref name="phonearena-overflowgone">{{cite web|title=Android menu button now on by default on all device with KitKat|url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-menu-button-now-on-by-default-on-all-device-with-KitKat_id50179|work=PhoneArena|date=December 9, 2013|access-date=February 9, 2014|archive-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213081334/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-menu-button-now-on-by-default-on-all-device-with-KitKat_id50179|url-status=live}}</ref> In the Settings menu, users can now specify a default Home (launcher) and text messaging app.<ref name="cnet-removekitkat">{{cite web|title=How to remove Hangouts and more Android 4.4 KitKat apps|url=http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-remove-hangouts-and-more-android-4-4-kitkat-apps/|website=CNET|access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-date=November 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109153113/http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-remove-hangouts-and-more-android-4-4-kitkat-apps/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On stock devices, the Messaging and Movie Studio apps were removed; the former was replaced by Google Hangouts, which supported SMS. The AOSP Gallery app was also deprecated in favor of Google+ Photos.<ref name="ars-androidhistory"/>
=== Platform === A new runtime environment known as the Android Runtime (ART), intended to replace the Dalvik virtual machine, was introduced as a technology preview in KitKat.<ref name=engadget-artkitkat>{{cite web|title='ART' experiment in Android KitKat improves battery life and speeds up apps|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/06/new-android-runtime-could-improve-battery-life/|website=Engadget|date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2014|archive-date=January 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127122851/https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/06/new-android-runtime-could-improve-battery-life/|url-status=live}}</ref> ART is a cross-platform runtime which supports the x86, ARM, and MIPS architectures in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments. Unlike Dalvik, which uses just-in-time compilation (JIT), ART compiles apps upon installation, which are then run exclusively from the compiled version from then on. This technique eliminates the processing overhead of JIT, improving system performance.<ref name="anandtech-8231">{{cite web | title = A Closer Look at Android RunTime (ART) in Android L | url = http://anandtech.com/show/8231/a-closer-look-at-android-runtime-art-in-android-l/ | date = July 1, 2014 | access-date = July 5, 2014 | author = Andrei Frumusanu | work = AnandTech | archive-date = July 5, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140705022457/http://anandtech.com/show/8231/a-closer-look-at-android-runtime-art-in-android-l | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Devices with 512 MB of RAM or less report as "low RAM" devices. Using an API, apps can detect low-RAM devices and adjust their functionality accordingly. KitKat also supports zram.<ref name=phonearena-svelte/><ref name="Nexus 5 review"/> WebView components were updated to utilize a version of the Google Chrome rendering engine.<ref name=tnw-chromewebview>{{cite web|title=KitKat's WebView is powered by Chromium, enabling Android app developers to use new HTML5 and CSS features|url=https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/11/02/kitkats-webview-powered-chromium-enabling-android-app-developers-use-new-html5-css-features/|website=The Next Web|date=November 2, 2013|access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006204115/http://thenextweb.com/google/2013/11/02/kitkats-webview-powered-chromium-enabling-android-app-developers-use-new-html5-css-features/|url-status=live}}</ref> A new Storage Access Framework API allows apps to retrieve files consistently; as part of the framework, a new system file picker (branded as "Documents") allows users to access files from various sources (including those exposed by apps, such as online storage services).<ref name="anandtech-sdkitkat">{{cite web|last=Ho|first=Joshua|title=Examining MicroSD changes in Android 4.4|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/7859/examining-microsd-changes-in-android-44|work=Anandtech|access-date=March 28, 2014|archive-date=March 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328131328/http://anandtech.com/show/7859/examining-microsd-changes-in-android-44|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A public API was introduced for creating and managing text messaging clients.<ref name=adb-kitkatsms>{{cite web |title=Getting Your SMS Apps Ready for KitKat |url=http://android-developers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/getting-your-sms-apps-ready-for-kitkat.html |work=Android Developers Blog |access-date=October 14, 2013 |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015024734/http://android-developers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/getting-your-sms-apps-ready-for-kitkat.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Sensor batching, step detection, and counter APIs were also added.<ref name="Nexus 5 review"/> KitKat supports host card emulation for near-field communications, which allows apps to emulate a smart card for activities such as mobile payments.<ref name=nfcworld-hce>{{cite web|title=Google gets around the carriers with Host Card Emulation for NFC payments|url=http://www.nfcworld.com/2013/10/31/326619/google-gets-around-carriers-host-card-emulation-nfc-payments/|website=NFCWorld.com|date=October 31, 2013|access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002043744/http://www.nfcworld.com/2013/10/31/326619/google-gets-around-carriers-host-card-emulation-nfc-payments/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== * Android version history * iOS 7 * Windows Phone 8 * Windows 8.1 * OS X Mavericks
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{commons category-inline}} * {{Official website}}
{{Android}} {{Google LLC}}
Category:Android (operating system) versions Category:2013 software Category:Products and services discontinued in 2017